Rockefeller State Park Preserve
Encyclopedia
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Rockefeller State Park Preserve is a state park
in Sleepy Hollow, New York
, in the eastern foothills
of the Hudson River
in Westchester County
. Common activities in the park include horse-riding, running
, jogging
, birdwatching
, walking
and sport fishing. The park has a rich history and was donated over time by the Rockefeller Family
beginning in 1983. Rockefeller State Park Preserve is designated by the National Audubon Society
as an "Important Bird Area" with over 180 species, and is known for its wildlife
, carriage trails, and scenic vistas. The park's 20 miles of carriage trails allow visitors to view the various habitats of the 1233 acres (5 km²) park, which include open meadow, dense forest, meandering rivers, wetlands, and the 24 acres (97,124.6 m²) Swan Lake.
Rockefeller State Park Preserve abuts the Old Croton Aqueduct State Historic Park
and Sleepy Hollow Cemetery
. The park is open year-round, from sunrise to sunset, and with office hours from 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM. There is a fee for parking.
The State Park Preserve also abuts extensive private land of the Kykuit
estate still owned by the Rockefeller family
which is open to the public. The trails in the private area connect with those in the State Park, but are not shown on the standard park trail map.. Access to these trails, and additional access to the State Park
trails, is available from Sleepy Hollow Road and Bedford Road/Route 448 in Sleepy Hollow.
Stone Barns Center for Food & Agriculture
, "a nonprofit farm and educational center designed to demonstrate, teach and promote sustainable, community-based food production", is located within walking distance of the Preserve.
State park
State parks are parks or other protected areas managed at the federated state level within those nations which use "state" as a political subdivision. State parks are typically established by a state to preserve a location on account of its natural beauty, historic interest, or recreational...
in Sleepy Hollow, New York
Sleepy Hollow, New York
Sleepy Hollow is a village in the town of Mount Pleasant in Westchester County, New York, United States. It is located on the eastern bank of the Hudson River, about north of midtown Manhattan in New York City, and is served by the Philipse Manor stop on the Metro-North Hudson Line.Originally...
, in the eastern foothills
Foothills
Foothills are geographically defined as gradual increases in elevation at the base of a mountain range. They are a transition zone between plains and low relief hills to the adjacent topographically high mountains.-Examples:...
of the Hudson River
Hudson River
The Hudson is a river that flows from north to south through eastern New York. The highest official source is at Lake Tear of the Clouds, on the slopes of Mount Marcy in the Adirondack Mountains. The river itself officially begins in Henderson Lake in Newcomb, New York...
in Westchester County
Westchester County, New York
Westchester County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. Westchester covers an area of and has a population of 949,113 according to the 2010 Census, residing in 45 municipalities...
. Common activities in the park include horse-riding, running
Running
Running is a means of terrestrial locomotion allowing humans and other animals to move rapidly on foot. It is simply defined in athletics terms as a gait in which at regular points during the running cycle both feet are off the ground...
, jogging
Jogging
Jogging is a form of trotting or running at a slow or leisurely pace. The main intention is to increase fitness with less stress on the body than from faster running.-Definition:...
, birdwatching
Birdwatching
Birdwatching or birding is the observation of birds as a recreational activity. It can be done with the naked eye, through a visual enhancement device like binoculars and telescopes, or by listening for bird sounds. Birding often involves a significant auditory component, as many bird species are...
, walking
Walking
Walking is one of the main gaits of locomotion among legged animals, and is typically slower than running and other gaits. Walking is defined by an 'inverted pendulum' gait in which the body vaults over the stiff limb or limbs with each step...
and sport fishing. The park has a rich history and was donated over time by the Rockefeller Family
Rockefeller family
The Rockefeller family , the Cleveland family of John D. Rockefeller and his brother William Rockefeller , is an American industrial, banking, and political family of German origin that made one of the world's largest private fortunes in the oil business during the late 19th and early 20th...
beginning in 1983. Rockefeller State Park Preserve is designated by the National Audubon Society
National Audubon Society
The National Audubon Society is an American non-profit environmental organization dedicated to conservation. Incorporated in 1905, Audubon is one of the oldest of such organizations in the world and uses science, education and grassroots advocacy to advance its conservation mission...
as an "Important Bird Area" with over 180 species, and is known for its wildlife
Wildlife
Wildlife includes all non-domesticated plants, animals and other organisms. Domesticating wild plant and animal species for human benefit has occurred many times all over the planet, and has a major impact on the environment, both positive and negative....
, carriage trails, and scenic vistas. The park's 20 miles of carriage trails allow visitors to view the various habitats of the 1233 acres (5 km²) park, which include open meadow, dense forest, meandering rivers, wetlands, and the 24 acres (97,124.6 m²) Swan Lake.
Rockefeller State Park Preserve abuts the Old Croton Aqueduct State Historic Park
Croton Aqueduct
The Croton Aqueduct or Old Croton Aqueduct was a large and complex water distribution system constructed for New York City between 1837 and 1842...
and Sleepy Hollow Cemetery
Sleepy Hollow Cemetery
Sleepy Hollow Cemetery in Sleepy Hollow, New York is the resting place of numerous famous figures, including Washington Irving, whose story "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" is set in the adjacent Old Dutch Burying Ground. Incorporated in 1849 as Tarrytown Cemetery, it posthumously honored Irving's...
. The park is open year-round, from sunrise to sunset, and with office hours from 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM. There is a fee for parking.
The State Park Preserve also abuts extensive private land of the Kykuit
Kykuit
Kykuit , also known as John D. Rockefeller Estate, is a 40-room National Trust house in Westchester County, New York, built by the oil businessman, philanthropist and founder of the prominent Rockefeller family, John D. Rockefeller, and his son, John D...
estate still owned by the Rockefeller family
Rockefeller family
The Rockefeller family , the Cleveland family of John D. Rockefeller and his brother William Rockefeller , is an American industrial, banking, and political family of German origin that made one of the world's largest private fortunes in the oil business during the late 19th and early 20th...
which is open to the public. The trails in the private area connect with those in the State Park, but are not shown on the standard park trail map.. Access to these trails, and additional access to the State Park
trails, is available from Sleepy Hollow Road and Bedford Road/Route 448 in Sleepy Hollow.
Stone Barns Center for Food & Agriculture
Stone Barns Center for Food & Agriculture
Stone Barns Center for Food & Agriculture is a non-profit farm and educational center with a partner restaurant, Blue Hill at Stone Barns, located in Westchester County, New York. The Center was created on formerly belonging to the Rockefeller estate in Pocantico Hills by David Rockefeller and...
, "a nonprofit farm and educational center designed to demonstrate, teach and promote sustainable, community-based food production", is located within walking distance of the Preserve.
In popular culture
- The park's entrance on New York State Route 117New York State Route 117New York State Route 117 is a 15.57 mile long state highway in Westchester County, New York, United States. The southern terminus of the route is at U.S. Route 9 north of the village of Sleepy Hollow. The northern terminus is at the Saw Mill River Parkway south of Katonah, a hamlet...
and the highway itself were used briefly in the 2002 comedy, Super TroopersSuper TroopersSuper Troopers is a 2001 crime-comedy film directed by Jay Chandrasekhar, written by and starring the Broken Lizard comedy group . Marisa Coughlan, Daniel von Bargen and Brian Cox co-star while Lynda Carter has a cameo appearance...
.